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Stimulus boosts station
BY GEORGE W. RHODES SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 2:52 AM EDT


Officials meet Tuesday with U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, third from left, to discuss almost $2 million worth of stimulus money from the Obama administration going toward the downtown Attleboro commuter rail project. Pictured with McGovern are, from left, Francis Gay, administrator of the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority; Barry LaCasse, the city's director of budget and administration; and Mayor Kevin Dumas. (Staff photo by Martin Gavin)




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ATTLEBORO - The promise of federal economic stimulus cash will soon be transformed into the reality of hammers, nails and jobs aimed at improving local transportation facilities.

Almost $2 million of President Barack Obama's $787 billion cash package intended to boost the economy nationwide will flow into the city to renovate the historic commuter rail station before the end of the year, officials said Tuesday.

Francis Gay, administrator of the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority, said he's planning to seek bids for the work in two weeks, with the aim of starting the project in September.

The goal is to finish it before the dead of winter, he said.

And for U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, who was in town Tuesday to take a look at the project, the work can't begin soon enough.
"I think the stimulus was a good move, and I'm anxious for all the money to get out," he said. "This is an example of stimulus money at work. This project probably wouldn't happen without it."

While some critics have questioned the infusion of billions of dollars into a variety of projects, McGovern said he has no doubt it will help energize the faltering economy locally and nationwide.

"Once it all goes out, there will be a stimulus effect," he said.

Gay said the interior of the station at the corner of Union and Mill streets will be gutted and replaced. The waiting area will double in size, making room for more commuters and vendors. New handicapped accessible bathrooms will be installed.

Outside repairs will also be made.

"This is a treasure we want to protect," Gay said of the station, which was built in 1906 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

He said the work wouldn't happen "for a long time" without stimulus cash.

Gay expects to spend about $800,000 on the station and another $1 million on a pedestrian ramp to the northbound platform from Park Street.

All told, GATRA got about $7.3 million for facility improvements and new equipment, including buses here and in Taunton.

Work on the Park Street ramp is also expected to start in September.
Mayor Kevin Dumas said the improvements will add to efforts already under way to beautify and revitalize downtown.

"We're very excited that this is beginning," he said. "It's going to be such an improvement."
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s-plumb wrote on Jul 1, 2009 7:03 PM:

" realist: I wonder how many thought this was just a rumor started by right wing groups? "

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realist wrote on Jul 1, 2009 5:52 PM:

" The strangest thing is; 0bama told us outright that he wanted to make electricity prices skyrocket and bankrupt the coal industry, but people will really act surprised when it happens. "

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s-plumb wrote on Jul 1, 2009 4:36 PM:

" Though it's (more) difficult to point fingers at the local level (I mean if a check came my way I'd think 2x before sending it back), but I respectfully request that Mr. McGovern tell us why he voted against us at each oppurtunity. The vote he cast on Friday, is meant to drive up the price of electricity; that's the goal!
Maybe there's something we don't understand that he could at least outline for us. I don't expect my opinion letter to be published by this paper, but this is a summary.
We need to communicate so we can make informed decisions. I read that in one of Kirby's pieces :) "

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1333 wrote on Jul 1, 2009 2:25 PM:

" No non union jobs saved or created from the suckulus bill;) McGvm't just loves the railroad. "

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realist wrote on Jul 1, 2009 1:39 PM:

" s-plumb makes a point. Another goal of the stimulus bill is to reduce the states power by putting them further in debt to the Feds. All this money comes with strings and the state will have to answer to one Federal agency or another. "

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s-plumb wrote on Jul 1, 2009 1:07 PM:

" I don't care who is causing the problems (party-wise), but this insanity really has to stop. Can you picture being a federal, state or locally elected official? I'm sure to them, adopting normal constitutionally accepted rules, is tantamount to renouncing their religion. I'm sure that some are honestly trying to manage with what they have before them. How do we make them understand? There are just SO many things that are not America-like.
We proactively support dictatorships, while leaving our allies with no cover...spending to specifically increase federal power, causing our economy to collapse. Every day there's another big push in an area that's not even reported on. Everything isn't a crisis, but the results will be. "

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Duffman wrote on Jul 1, 2009 12:23 PM:

" I commute from that station everyday, and think this is a huge waste of money. Doubling the size might make it more comfortable but most people wait in there cars until the train arrives. We don't need more vendors in the station, we are going to work not shopping. How about using some funds and lower the cost of the commuter rail? "

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Ishouldbemayor wrote on Jul 1, 2009 11:30 AM:

" All the stimulus "money", if you can call it that cause its backed by nothing, will do is postpone the inevitable. There will be a great recession / depression bigger than this one, the gov will have to shrink back to a reasonable size and people will have to start keeping jobs and factories in this country instead of shipping them overseas. They will also have to get real jobs, not gov handout positions. Obama won't have to deal with it and that is his plan. "

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Realist wrote on Jul 1, 2009 11:08 AM:

" s-plumb -- I agree with you. I would love to see these funds rejected. But where as we have a Dem controlled government in this state that won't happen. That and Governor Tax and Spend is a law school buddy of the Spendthrift in Chief. "

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s-plumb wrote on Jul 1, 2009 10:46 AM:

" I just wish for the good of the community, as well as the country, we could agree to reject new funds and freeze spending until we catch our collective breathes. We've had 2 bills(Stimulus & budget) passed without any legistlator knowing what was in them before they voted. Now we can ad lasts week's dissaster in congress. "

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kevin h. wrote on Jul 1, 2009 10:43 AM:

" Realist, Thanks that was a good one. Perhaps they thought the stimulus was in their pants. "

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Realist wrote on Jul 1, 2009 10:30 AM:

" kevin h -- You don't appreciate the momentous occasion being chronicled here. McGovern with his hands in his own pockets -- not ours. Can Mr. Gavin be nomintated for a Pulitzer prize?

0bama's stimulus is designed mostly to preserver government and union jobs (his political core) not create new private sector jobs. True there will be some temporary construction jobs but that's about all for new work. His hope is that the economy picks up via it's normal cycles and he and other Dems can take credit for improving things. And the tax burden will be his legacy. "

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anavoter wrote on Jul 1, 2009 9:27 AM:

" No way will this be done before winter.

Don't understand spending $800k on station but $1 million on a ramp. Seems to me we could get a ramp built for a lot less than $1million????

While apparently a worthwhile project it is hard to see how this stimulus money will end up creating any permanent private sector jobs. "

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s-plumb wrote on Jul 1, 2009 8:23 AM:

" This is where most folks disagree with the new status quo, fearing that we are selling our freedom, and our very way of life.
Sure things need to get done, but how is this creating jobs?
There are precidents for deficit spending, but it might be wise to have a propotionate income. Did Rep. McGovern even know this was in the stimulus bill? "

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kevin h. wrote on Jul 1, 2009 7:51 AM:

" "The goal is to finish it before the dead of winter, he said."

Yea,right. Good luck. "

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kevin h. wrote on Jul 1, 2009 7:49 AM:

" Working hard with their hand in their pants. "

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